Shares of business software and services provider Pegasystems (Nasdaq: PEGA) are surging more than 28 percent on strong earnings for the fourth quarter that came in way ahead of estimations. The company's revenue projections for the full year 2012 also came in above analysts' predictions.
Pegasystems said the revenues to be over $500 million and adjusted earnings of 91 cents a share. The company expects 45 percent of revenue forecasted to be achieved during the first half of 2012, and deliver 55 percent in the next half, similiar to 2011. For the first half, the company expects adjusted earnings of 25 cents a share.
Street analysts' are estimating the company to deliver earnings of 98 cents a share on revenues of $490.21 million for the year 2012.
For the fourth quarter, Pegasystems suffered a net loss of $1.855 million or 5 cents loss a share, narrower than a net loss of $4.693 million or 13 cents loss a share in the year earlier quarter. On an adjusted basis, net income jumped 144.3 percent to $6.459 million from $2.644 million and earnings climbed 128.6 percent to 16 cents a share from 7 cents a share in the year-ago quarter.
Total revenues grew 26 percent to $115.783 million from $91.88 million in the previous year quarter. Street analysts' had estimated the company to deliver earnings of 5 cents a share on revenues of $104.9 million.
Importantly, operating margin increased to 9.99 percent from 6.06 percent, while net income margin nearly doubled to 5.58 percent from 2.88 percent in last year quarter.
For the year 2011, operating margin slipped to 9.14 percent from 10.77 percent, but net income margin rose to 6.75 percent from 6.46 percent in 2010.
Despite earnings guidance coming in below estimates, the investors seem to be counting on expansion of operating and net income margin witnessed during the fourth quarter. This will hold key for the company to deliver better than projected earnings.
During the 52-week period, the stock traded in the range of $47.55 - $25.81. Currently, shares of the company are trading up by 8.13 or 28.9 percent at $36.21. Compared to 52-week high, the stock is trading 23.9 percent lower.